Erin Hamlin, Team USA History Maker: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Erin Hamlin, 27, made history in Sochi today as she became the first ever American to medal in singles luge. The New Yorker placed in the bronze category with Natalie Geisenberger of Germany claiming the gold and her fellow German, Tatjana Hufner, winning the silver. The BBC reports, “is it possible to make winning an Olympic luge gold medal look comfortable?”

That’s enough of that though, here’s what you need to know about Team USA’s history maker:

1. She Suffers From Migraines

2. She Battle the Germans Before

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She has been competing in luge since 2005. In 2009, at Lake Placid’s 2009 World Luge Championships, Hamlin broke the German stranglehold on the competition by winning the gold. It was the first time in 99 races that a German didn’t win.

3. She’s the Pride of American Luge

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Her first Olympics was in Turin in 2006. Hamlin placed 12 in the women’s finals. Then at the 2010 Vancouver Games, she was once again selected to compete for Team USA where she placed in 16th position, the highest finish for an American.